Method of manufacturing oil gas



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METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OIL GAS Original Filed May 2. 1935 sSheetS-Sheetl I I I R lijve joz w WW $65 1% a: W1...

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1,644,146 Get. 4 R- D. PIKE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OIL GAS heets-Shee t2 Original Filed May 2, 1923 1/ mm r a (1] y Oct. 4, 1927.

D. PIKE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OIL GAS Original Filed May 2, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 3 v 25 fuel through the checker bricks for I :10 throughPatented Oct. 4, 1927.

ROBERT D. PIKE, 01 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OIL GAS.

Application filed Kay 2, 1923, Serial No. 686,087. Benewedlebruary 28,1927.

The' hereinafter described invention relates to 'a method for the makingof gas from oil in internally heated ipriodically operated generators,and the o ject thereof is the 5 elimination of the so-called by-productlamp black and the conversion of all solid carbon materials derived fromthe oil into gas within the generating ap aratus without allowing thesame to be disdiiarged therefrom; thus effecting a great economy in themanufacture of the gas as well as overcoming the present nuisanceconnected with the manufacture of gas involved in the bandling anddisposing of the solid carbonaceous l5 by-product of gas manufactureusually \referred to as the waste, or by-produets, lamp black?- One ofthe more important present day methods for the manufacture of gas from011 0 in internally heated periodically operated steam G and oil ontohighly heated checker bricks 0 generators comprises the spraying ofwithinenclosed shells for a period of-usually ten minutes duration, thenblasting air and another period, usually ten minutes duration, outdeposited carbon and restore to the checker bricks the heat abstractedtherefrom during the gas making period the checker bricks are arrangedin two shells commonly known as the primary and secondary. During theheating operation the principal combustlon origmates at the top of theprimary shell; the gases of combustion passing downwardly therethroughand then through a connection known as the throat into the bottom of thesecondary shell and thence upwardly and out to the atmosphere throu h avalve at the top'of the secondary she I.

40 During the gas making period oil and steam.

are sprayed into the chambers'at or near the top of both the primary andthe secondary shells, and the gas therefrom passes downwardly in both.The gases pass from the primary to the secondary through the throat, andthence upwardly about a third of the height of the secondary where theymix with the gases which have come down' through the secondary. andthence pass outwardly an ofitake which is so disposed as to force thegas to bubble through water in a so-called wash box; which water servesto seal the generator against the outside atmosphere during the heatingperiod and to sepa- 68 rate the lampblack from the gas.

to burn N The oil used for making gas b this process weighs about 7.9#per ga on at F. and is of about the following analysis by weight.

v, Per cent. 60 Carbon 85. O Hydrogen 12. 0 Sulphur 8 gitrogen ,n 2

Xygen l. 0 5 ater; 1 O

The gas made has about 550 B. t. u. per cubic foot at 60 F. and 29.92"Hg. barometno pressure, and is of about the following analysis byvolume.

Percent.

9? cemeommww The gas leaving the generator contains per thousand cubicfeet -of 'finished gas about 12# of solid carbon in finely dividedcondition known as waste, or by-product lampblack, about 3 of tar andminor impurities such as naglithalene and sulphur compounds. The lamplack must be entirely removed from the gas, which is done by washingwith water and its handling and disposition constitutes a serioushandicap to the present process. a Y 95 From 40# to50# of steam perthousand cu. ft. of gas produced is introduced into the generator,withthe oil,'and were it not for this steam,-'th'e lampblack productionwould be much larger than above stated. This will be understood from abrief consideration of the reactions involved.

W hen the oil spray strikes the checker brick the oil is decomposed intocarbon (C), hydrogen (H,), methane (CH,) and higher hydrocarbons such asbenzol H ethylene (C 11,), and naphthalene (Q H Further application ofheat tends to break down the methane and higher hydrocarbons into carbonand hydrogen. The presence of 110 steam leads to the following reactionswhich gasify the solid carbon.

which reactions partly account for the presence of carbon monoxide (CO1;and carbon dioxide (CO in the gas. ut these reactions absorb much heatand unless the heat ener is furnished the temperature becomes rapidlylowered to a point where these reactions practically cease. The firstreaction producin G0, which is the one most desired, practical y ceasesat 1650 F.

My method invention is the elm inatlon of the solid carbonconstituents'carried 1n suspension in the gas formed and discharged fromthe primary shell and prior to an enrichment of said gas and the1nvent1on is preferably carried out by passing the gases dischargingfrom the primary shell and commonly termed a lean gas conta ning sohdparticles of lampblack in suspenslon, with a suitable quantity of steamthrough an onclosed space containing checker brick heated to amaintained temperature by suitable means at a necessary high level foreffecting the requisite water gas reaction between the steam and thesolid carbon present, so that all the carbon carried in suspension inthe gas may be asified.

Any suita 1e type of apparatus may be employed for the carrying out ofthe method invention, in the accompanying drawings being illustrated twoforms of apparatus for the carrying out of the said invention, andwherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a transverse vertical sectional view taken throughan apparatus of the countercurrent type, and incorporated therewith andinterposed between the primary and seconda shells thereof a means forasification of te solid constituents carried in suspension by the gasformed within and discharged from the primary shell of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top plan sectional view taken on the line A-A, Fig. 1 of thedrawings.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of an apparatusofso-called parallel current type with the gasifying means for the solidcarbon constituents of the gas interposed between the primary andsecondary shells of the apparatus, this form of apparatus differing fromthe type disclosed in Fig. 1

of the drawings merely to the extent of the different relativedirections which are imparted to the flow of gas and combustion gas.

Fig. 4 is a top plan longitudinal sectional view taken on the line BBFig. 3, of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates theprimary shell of the gas making apparatus, the numeral 2 theintermediate or lampblack eliminating shell and 3 the open connectionestablishing communication between the bottoms of the shells 1 and 2. Toone side of the shell 2 is situated the shell 4 which constitutes thesecondary shell and which is utilized for the enrichment of the gasformed within and delivered from the primary shell 1 of the apparatus.The bottoms of the shells 2 and 4 communicate by means of the valvecontrolled connection 5, while the top portions of the said shells 2 and4 are in communication through the medium of the valve controlledconnection 6. The connection 5 is provided with a controlling valve 7and the connection 6 with a controllin valve 7 which valves arepreferably 0 the same design and actuated by suitable controllingmechanism not shown and of such construction that the two valves 7 and7' act as reversing valves, that is, when the valve 7 is thrown to closethe connection 5, the valve 7' is thrown to open the connection 6 orvice versa. From the shell 4 is extended a connection 8 for the flow ofthe gases of combustion therefrom, which connection communicates withthe waste heat boilers 9, the stack 10' of one of said boilersbeingcontrolled by a stack valve 10 which is controlled by suitable mechanismnot shown for opening and closing the stack outlet 10. From the bottomof the shell 4 is extended a' connection 11 which leads to a suitablewash box 12 which is provided with a pipe 13 for supplying waterthereto. From the wash box 12 'is extended a liquid outlet pipe 14 andthe said box is rovided with an outlet 15 for the escape 0 gastherefrom. v

The shells 1, 2 and 4 as well as the connections 3, 5, 6 and 11 arelined with a suitable refractory lining 16 which is broken only atthenecessary point for admitting sight holes and holes for pipes forconveying steam, air and oil to the interior of the shells 1, 2 and 4.Each of these said shells, except for occasional open spaces, is filledwith checker brick 17 resting on suitable piers 18.

Within the primary shell 1 at or near the top thereof is provided aspace 19 for combustion and into which is admitted through the centrallydisposed opening 21 air under pressure, oil and steam, respectively,through the pipe connections 20, 22 and 23. VVithin the chamber 19 isdisposed a small set of checker bricks 17 which rest on a perforatedcrown 24 below which crown is provided a space 25 into which steam andoil may be admitted by the pipes 26 and 27, respectively.

The shell 2 is provided at its top portion with an open space 30 similarin all respects to the chamber 19 of the shell 1 and into which chamber30 air, oil and steam, may be admitted through the pipes 28, 29, and 30,respectively.

combustion when desired being discharged :from the chamber 31 throughthe outlet 34 and being delivered -in the present case through theconnection 8 into the waste heat boilers 9. a

My method for the gasifying of the solid carbon constituents during thegas making period as carried out in the above described apparatus is asfollows.

The complete cycle for the making of the gas is divided intosubstantially two equal periods, usually of ten minutes duration eachand which are known as the heating and making periods.

During the heating period the valve 10 of one of the waste heat boilers9 is open to the outside atmosphere, while the water contained withinthe wash box 12 seals the shell 4 against the outside atmosphere at itsbottom. Air for combustion is admitted under pressure through the pipe20 into the combustion chamber 19 and oil through the pipe 22 and thesteam for the atomization of the oil through the pipe 23. Combustion iscomplete in the chamber 19 and the gases of combustion pass down throughthe shell 1 and the heated checker work therein and escape therefromthrough the open connection 3 into the bottom of the shell 2 and thencethrough the connection 5 into the bottom of the shell 4, the valve 7 atsuch time being in open position while the valve 7 of the connection 6is closed. The hot gases of combustion then move upwardly through thechecker bricks 17 of the shell 4 into the chamber 31 at the top thereofand escape therefrom through the opening 34 and into the waste heatboilers 9 through the connection 8 and from the waste heat boilersthrough the open stack 10' to the atmosphere. At the same time air forcombustion is admitted into the shell 2 through the pipe 28 and oilthrough the pipe 29, while steam for atomizing the oil is admittedthrough the pipe 30 into the space 30 and combustion is completed withinsaid space or chamber, the gases of combustion from the chamber 30moving downwardly through the checker work of the shell 2 and thenceinto the bottom of the shell 4 following the same course as the gases ofcombustion from the shell 1. During this period of operation theinterior of the shells 1 and 2 are independently heated while theinterior of the shell 4 is heated by the gases of combustion from bothshells 1 and 2.

During the gas forming, or making period the valve 10 of the stack 10 isclosed and the gas leaves the generator by bubbling through the waterseal (not shown) in the wash box 12. Steam isadmitted into thecombustion chamber 19 of the shell 1 through the pipe 23 and passesdownwardly through the checkers 1 becoming highly superheated and passesinto the chamber or space 25. 4

Oil and steam is admitted respectively through the pipes 27 and 26 andmingling with the superheated steam contained within the chamber 25passes downwardly through the highly heated checkers 17 and escapes fromthe shell 1 through the open connection 3 into the bottom. of the shell2. During the gas making period the valve 7 is closed and the valve 7stands open, so that the gases from the shell 1 which carry a heavysuspension of lampblack are constrained to pass upwardly through thehighly heated chackers within the chamber 2. Additional steam may, if sodesired, be admitted within the shell 2 through the pipe connections 26into the chamber 26 or at any other desirable point.

The checker bricks 17 within the shell 2 are maintained at such atemperaturethat the steam is caused to react with the carbon (lampblack)contained and carried by the gas from the shell 1* flowing upwardlythrough the shell 2 so that the gas passing into the chamber 30 andescaping therefrom through the connection 6 is free from lampblack andrich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas thereforev escaping ordischarging from within the shell 2 is a socalled lean gas; that is, onehaving a relatively small heating value per unit volume, and for mostuses requires enriching. This latter step is accomplished by introducinginto shell 4 a spray of oil through the pipe 33, which oil intermingleswith the lean gas entering into the chamber 31 and in passing downwardlythrough the highly heated checkers within the shell 4 becomes convertedinto a rich gas, with the result that by properly regulating the amountof oil admitted through the pipe 33 the heating value of the gas perunit volume may be varied within wide limits.

No novelty is claiined for taking the gas made in shell 1' and causingthe same to be enriched by the admixture of oil in shell 4, but thenovelty of my invention resides in passing the lean gas containing insuspension the carbon particles (lampblack) discharging from the shell 1and passing the same through a shell which furnishes the necessaryamount of heat at the correct temperature and with sufliciently largeinternal exposed heating surfaces for efiecting the required water gasreaction between the carbon (lampblack) and steam, so that substantiallyall of the solid carbon particles carried in suspension may be gasifiedand flow with the lean gaseous mixture into the shell4 for enrichment,so that the enriched gas discharging from the shell 4 shall be free ofthe shell 2.

solid carbon particles usually carried thereby and at a subsequentperiod of treatment removed therefrom as a waste solid carbonaceous b-product usually referred to as waste ro uct lampblack.

In t e carryin out of my method invention by the use 0 an apparatus asabove described, it is necessary and required that the interior of theshell 2 be heated from an independent combustion chamber at the topthereof, because the temperature of the checker brick within the shell 2must be at least as high as the temperature of the checker work withinthe chamber 1 and preferably higher for the carrying out of the watergas reaction necessary during the flow of the gas from the shell 1 intoand upwardly through thevheated checker work in the shell 2. a

Any suitable means may be employed for maintaining the checker brickcontained within the shell 2, properly heated for the elimination of thesolid carbon constituents of the gas discharging from the shell 1 by thegasification thereof during the flow of such lean gas into and throughthe said The apparatus above described for use in the carrying out of mymethod invention is known as the counter current type because of thedirection of the gas flow during the gas making period, whicharrangement of counter current is conducive to efficiency in effecting atransference of heat.

Another form of apparatus for the carrying out of my method invention isdisclosed by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings and which illustrate anapparatus of the so-called parallel current type, the significance ofwhich designation being that in both shells 2 and 4 the heating gasespass into the same direction as the gases during the period of gasmaking. The same reference numerals are employed in connection with theapparatus illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings to designate thecorresponding parts appearing in the apparatus disclosed by Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, but in the apparatus of the parallel current type theconnection 5 and the valves 7 and 7 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are omitted,and the interior construction of the shell 2 differs in certain respectsfrom that of the shell 2 disclosed by Fig. 1 of the drawings. In theshell 2 of the parallel current type of apparatus during the heatingperiod of the shells 1, 2 and 3, combustion within the shell 2 takesplace downwardly within a' centrally disposed well 30", lined interiorlywith a refractory lining 30, and gases of combustion leaving the well 30at the bottom thereof flow or pass upwardly into and through thecheckers 17 and escape from within the shell 2 through the openconnection 6 into the interior of the shell 4 and move downwardly within'said shell through the checkers 17 and thence outwardly through theconnection 8 into the waste heat boiler 9, escaping therefrom to theoutside through the valve controlled outlet stack 10. During the gasmaking period the procedure and the flow direction of the gases is thesame as with the counter current type of apparatus, the result beingthat in the shell 2 the gases both during the making period and heatingperiod pass upwardl through the heated checkers 17 of said shel' theheated surfaces within the shell 2 during such flow of the made gas fromthe shell 1 gasifying the solid carbon particles or constituentssuspended within the flowing body of as.

he only advantage possessed by the parallel current type of apparatuslllustrate'd by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings over the counter currenttype of apparatus illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, isthatin the former the valves 7 and 7' and connection 5 are not employed,a'lthou h the efiiciency of heating by the use of t e parallel currenttype of apparatus is not as high as in the counter currenttype.

While I have described two types of apparatus for the carrying out of mymethod invention, it will be understood that any other suitable form ofmechanism may be employed for this purpose which will answer to permitof the passing of formed gases carrying solid carbon in suspension andmixed with steam through and b heating surfaces furnished withsufiicient heat at the requisite temperature to effect a water gasreaction between the carbon and the steam to cause substantiallycompletegasification of the carbon constituents present in the flowing body ofgas. No claim is made in the present application for the apparatus forthe carrying out of the method invention herein disclosed, inasmuch asthe same will be set forth in an application to be filed hereafter as adivision of the present application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of making oil gas and eliminating carbon particlestherefrom, which resides in bringing oil into contact with suitablyheated surfaces within an enclosed space, then passing the generated gascarrying carbon particles in suspension and mixed with steam through anenclosed chamber containing heating surfaces maintained at the requisitetemperature for effecting gasification of the carbon by reaction withthesteam, and then enriching the resulting gas by intermixing oiltherewith in the presence of hot surfaces within an enclosed space.

2. The method of making oil gas and eliminating carbon particlestherefrom,

which resides in bringing oil and steam into contact with suitablyheated surfaces within an enclosed space then passing the generated gascarrying carbon particles in suspension and mixed with steam through anenclosed chamber containing heating surfaces maintained by anindependent source of heat at the requisite temperature for effectingthe gasification of the carbon constituents of the gas by reaction withthe steam, and then enriching the resulting gas by intermixing oiltherewith during a flow in the presence of heated surfaces within anenclosed space.

3. The method of making gas from oil, consisting in first treating asupply of oil with steam and passing it over heated surfaces in a closedchamber for converting the oil and steam into a lean gas carryingsuspended carbon particles, then treating said lean gas and suspendedcarbon in another closed chamber with a predetermined degree of heat inthe presence of a supply of steam for converting the carbon into gas,and subsequently enriching the lean gas mixture in a further treatment.

4. The method of making gas from oil, consisting in first treating aquantity of oil in a closed chamber with heat in the presence of steamfor making a lean gas carrying carbon particles in suspension, secondly,in treating said lean gas and suspended carbon in a second closedchamber heated to a predetermined degree by introducing a charge ofsteam for treatment therewith to gasify the carbon particles, andsubsequently enriching the lean gas mixture after leaving said secondchamber with oil vapor.

5. The method of making gas from oil, which consists in mixing a chargeof oil and steam in a closed chamber and conducting the same downwardlythrough the chamber having a predetermined amount of heat therein toform a lean gas carrying suspended carbon particles, conveying said leangas and suspended carbon to an adjacent closed chamber for apredetermined heat treatment in the presence of steam in rising throughsaid chamber for gasifying said carbon particles and forming a leangaseous mixture, and subsequently enriching said lean mixture for use.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT D. PIKE.

